Nook Color vs Other Tablets?

I read about how you can root a nook color so that it is nearly a fully functioning Android tablet. I heard, however (true or false), that B&N has stopped shipping nooks so that they can secure them and render them unrootable.

I have been in the tablet market since before I purchased my Droid 1. What is a rooted nook color capable of? I am considering getting an iPad after they launch the new one coming up, but for $250 if I can get a decent tablet I might forget it. Can a rooted nook play YouTube? Can it play movies (should I load them on)? Is it capable of playing games? And can you still access you B&N books if you go this route?

How is the nook in comparison with other tabs, like the iPad and Samsung Galaxy tab? I don't want to pay for a 3G contract feature, I rather just use wifi and tether, so that is why I'm looking at the iPad. Finally, is it hard to do? Thanks!

I always link to this video below...it does a good job of showing off most of the features. The Nookcolor is a pretty capable device that runs fast and has impressive build quality. There is not a camera on the NC which is not a big deal to most people but notable.

I don't know about B&N stopping shipment to "secure" these devices. That seems a little far fetched to me. As a company, you don't stop shipment of a product just to make sure a small percentage of users are going to root the device.

Edit: After doing some research...it seems that is exactly what B&N is doing. The only real downside to rooting the NC for B&N is that people can install the kindle app when rooted (which obviously could cause them to lose revenue). But damn...pulling the devices back to "retool" them...seems really stupid on B&N's part. The vast majority of their users may not be rooting them but as an "e-reader" only...I wouldn't have bought two of them. B&N is going to quickly learn that they are just wasting their time and money cause if it runs Android...it WILL get hacked. Welcome to the game B&N...don't be another Motorola...you'll only hurt yourself!

In an earlier report it was suggested that shipments of the NOOKcolor from Barnes & Noble were halted in order to institute an edition of the e-reader that would be a bit more difficult for hackers and modders to break wide open. A source has now come forward saying that speculation is totally false.
While shipments have indeed stopped for the time being, the stoppage is actually the result of a bug in B&N&#8217;s inventory system. Shipments were halted so that a company-wide stock count could take place in order to update current numbers before resuming the reception of new units. The bug and halt on shipments also coincides with a production delay coming out of China. Here is B&N&#8217;s word on how they will handle current in-store stock:
&#8220;B&N&#8217;s short-term solution to the problem is to move stock from one store to another to cover demand, with cooperation at the local level between stores.&#8221;
So it looks like you won&#8217;t need to get your drawers in a bunch over the NOOKcolor gestapo-ing away the ability to do cool things like, say, install Honeycomb on your rooted e-reader.

I don't know that B&N has the Android resources or know-how to lock things down if they wanted to. Not a knock on B&N...it's just they are new to the game.

If there were to spend extra resources to "eliminate" hacking, those resources would probably be spent in vein. If it runs Android...our Dev community will hack it!

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I thought as much when it was pointed out that the cell standby service was left on the device. It takes no effort at all to disable it. Why would they leave it on by default? The thing has no cell modem and never will.

I thought as much when it was pointed out that the cell standby service was left on the device. It takes no effort at all to disable it. Why would they leave it on by default? The thing has no cell modem and never will.

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In all fairness, I don't think this book told their developers how to disable that...

My local B&N just got the fresh batch of NC in this morning. The nook specialist had already rooted one of the new ones for a family member, just to see if the rumors were true. Other than the 1.1 update the new stock has no modification and is still open to the geniuses over at dev.

Picked one up and will decide whether to root or run honeycomb SD next time I have spare time- if ever

Picked mine up a Barnes and Noble yesterday as well. Only issue is I can't touch it for a while.
Future Birthday present. Have to wait a couple of weeks to play with it.

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Ouch!!! I'm saving up for one as we speak. When I get paid tomorrow, I should have enough; although I want to save about up to $300 so I have some money left over after. I need to buy a good SD card also!

Ouch!!! I'm saving up for one as we speak. When I get paid tomorrow, I should have enough; although I want to save about up to $300 so I have some money left over after. I need to buy a good SD card also!